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ID-FRONTIERS for July 1-6, 2002
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Subject: Slender-billed Curlew: a flurry of new literature
From: Angus Wilson <wilsoa02(AT)ENDEAVOR.MED.NYU.EDU>
Date: 1 Jul 2002 6:51pm
**** Slender-billed Curlew: a view from the edge of extinction ****
As we all know, the Slender-billed Curlew (Numenius tenuirostris) hangs
perilously on the brink of extinction. The recent acceptance of Britain's first
record, based on a first-summer bird discovered by Tim Cleeves in 1998,
provides new hope for the survival of the species. This immature provides proof
that other adults exist (at least they did during the summer of 1997) and bred
successfully. With luck the lastest record will stimulate fresh searches in
remote areas discover new wintering and stop-over localities. Candidate sites
in North Africa have been identified and there is room for hope. I thought ID-
Frontier subscribers might be interested to know of several new articles
centered around the British record - at times highly controversial - and
prospects for the discovery of more birds.
(1) Cleeves, T. (2002) Slender-billed Curlew in Northumberland: new to Britain
and Ireland. British Birds 95(6): 272-278.
(2) Steele, J. and Vangeluwe, D. (2002) From the Rarities Committee's files:
The Slender-billed Curlew at Druridge Bay, Northumberland, in 1998. British
Birds 95(6): 279-299.
(3) Bradshaw, C. (2002) Commentary, on behalf of the British Birds Rarities
Committee. British Birds 95(6): 299.
(4) Meek, E. (2002) Commentary, on behalf of the British Ornithologist Union
Records Committe. British Birds 95(6): 299.
(5) Papps, S. (2002) Last of the Curlews. Birdwatch Issue 119 (May ): 22-25.
(6) Van der Have, T.M., Keijl, G.O., Mansoori, J. and Morozov, V.V. (2001)
Searching for Slender-billed Curlews in Iran, Januari-Februari 2000. WIWO
(Foundation Working Group International Wader and Waterfowl Research) - report
72.
(7) Gallo-Orsi, U. and Boere, G. C. (2001) The Slender-billed Curlew Numenius
tenuirostris: threats and conservation. Acta Ornithologica 36: 73-78.
(8) Gretton, A., Yurlov, A. K., Boere, G. C. (2002) Where does the Slender-
billed Curlew nest, and what future does it have? British Birds 95(7): 334-344.
(9) McGhie, H. A. (2002) The eggs of the Slender-billed Curlew at The
Manchester Museum: a unique specimen? British Birds 95(7): 359-360.
I'd love to hear of additional articles that I might have missed and of course,
timely news of the next live sighting!
The simple fact that the latest sighting of Slender-billed Curlew involves a
young bird provide real food for optimism. Along this vein, it might be prudent
for birders in North and South America to build and circulate a clear picture
of how to identify first-summer Eskimo Curlews in the hope of a similar
discovery.....................
Cheers, Angus Wilson
New York City
-------------------------------------------------
This mail sent through IMP: http://horde.org/imp/
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Slender-billed Curlew: a flurry of recent
literature
From: Angus Wilson <wilsoa02(AT)ENDEAVOR.MED.NYU.EDU>
Date: 1 Jul 2002 7:00pm
**** Slender-billed Curlew: a view from the edge of extinction ****
As we all know, the Slender-billed Curlew (Numenius tenuirostris) hangs
perilously on the brink of extinction. The recent acceptance of Britain's first
record, based on a first-summer bird discovered by Tim Cleeves in 1998,
provides new hope for the survival of the species. This immature provides proof
that other adults exist (at least they did during the summer of 1997) and bred
successfully. With luck the lastest record will stimulate fresh searches in
remote areas discover new wintering and stop-over localities. Candidate sites
in North Africa have been identified and there is room for hope. I thought ID-
Frontier subscribers might be interested to know of several new articles
centered around the British record - at times highly controversial - and
prospects for the discovery of more birds.
(1) Cleeves, T. (2002) Slender-billed Curlew in Northumberland: new to Britain
and Ireland. British Birds 95(6): 272-278.
(2) Steele, J. and Vangeluwe, D. (2002) From the Rarities Committee's files:
The Slender-billed Curlew at Druridge Bay, Northumberland, in 1998. British
Birds 95(6): 279-299.
(3) Bradshaw, C. (2002) Commentary, on behalf of the British Birds Rarities
Committee. British Birds 95(6): 299.
(4) Meek, E. (2002) Commentary, on behalf of the British Ornithologist Union
Records Committe. British Birds 95(6): 299.
(5) Papps, S. (2002) Last of the Curlews. Birdwatch Issue 119 (May ): 22-25.
(6) Van der Have, T.M., Keijl, G.O., Mansoori, J. and Morozov, V.V. (2001)
Searching for Slender-billed Curlews in Iran, Januari-Februari 2000. WIWO
(Foundation Working Group International Wader and Waterfowl Research) - report
72.
(7) Gallo-Orsi, U. and Boere, G. C. (2001) The Slender-billed Curlew Numenius
tenuirostris: threats and conservation. Acta Ornithologica 36: 73-78.
(8) Gretton, A., Yurlov, A. K., Boere, G. C. (2002) Where does the Slender-
billed Curlew nest, and what future does it have? British Birds 95(7): 334-344.
(9) McGhie, H. A. (2002) The eggs of the Slender-billed Curlew at The
Manchester Museum: a unique specimen? British Birds 95(7): 359-360.
I'd love to hear of additional articles that I might have missed and of course,
timely news of the next live sighting!
The simple fact that the latest sighting of Slender-billed Curlew involves a
young bird provide real food for optimism. Along this vein, it might be prudent
for birders in North and South America to build and circulate a clear picture
of how to identify first-summer Eskimo Curlews in the hope of a similar
discovery.....................
Cheers, Angus Wilson
New York City
-------------------------------------------------
This mail sent through IMP: http://horde.org/imp/
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Which Sharp-tailed Sparrow?
From: Dave DeReamus <becard(AT)FAST.NET>
Date: 1 Jul 2002 11:46pm
Hi all,
I was wondering if some of you "LBJ" experts would take a look at the five
photos found at the following addresses
http://pa.audubon.org/photos/sharp-tailedsparrow-1.jpg
http://pa.audubon.org/photos/sharp-tailedsparrow-2.jpg
http://pa.audubon.org/photos/sharp-tailedsparrow-3.jpg
http://pa.audubon.org/photos/sharp-tailedsparrow-4.jpg
http://pa.audubon.org/photos/sharp-tailedsparrow-5.jpg
and respond with your opinions as to whether this bird is a Nelson's or
Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow. These Sharp-tailed Sparrow photos were
taken in east-central PA at Lake Minsi, Northampton County way back on
11/12/96. The bird, originally found by Brian and Tiffany Hardiman, was
netted in cattails along the lakeshore and photographed. Photos 1 through 4
were taken by Rick Wiltraut and Photo 5 was taken by Jason Horn. Jason's
photo is obviously overexposed, but it's the only photo we have showing a
frontal view of the bird. Unfortunately, no measurements were taken of the
bird at the time.
Since Sharp-tailed Sparrow has been split, the big question remains whether
this bird is a Saltmarsh or a Nelson's. The bird shows some characteristics
of BOTH species. I checked out David Sibley's article on Sharp-tailed
Sparrows in the June 1996 issue of 'Birding' and still can't make up my mind
whether this bird is a Saltmarsh or a boldly-marked 'A. n. nelsoni' Nelson's
Sharp-tailed like the ones shown in Figures 14 and 15 in the article.
Considering the fact that I have limited experience with Sharp-taileds and
am going by what I've seen and read, here's my thoughts on the photos:
1) The bill looks right for Nelson's (the more expected species of the
two). It seems shorter in length and doesn't seem to have the flat-headed
profile of a Saltmarsh.
2) Photos 2 through 5 show the throat to be somewhat whiter in color than
the orange submoustachial stripe which is separated by a pretty bold dark
whisker line. This seems to favor Saltmarsh.
3) The border between the breast and the belly seems to be fairly faint and
irregular in Photo 5 (favoring Saltmarsh), yet there IS some contrast
between the orange on the breast and the whitish belly (favoring Nelson's).
4) Photo 2 seems to show darker markings around the eye which would point
towards Saltmarsh.
5) The photos show strong, distinct streaking of the breast and flanks
(favoring Saltmarsh), although Photo 3 shows some blurry streaking along the
sides.
6) Photos 1 through 4 show what appears to be fine streaking on the rear
supercilium (favoring Saltmarsh), or is this just separation between the
feathers?
7) Photos 1 and 2 show the grayish sides of the neck.
Obviously, I would appreciate any opinions and comments. I'm especially
interested in identifying this bird since there is only one accepted record
of Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed for PA.
Thanks to Carmen Santasania, PABIRDS listowner, and PA Audubon for putting
the photos on their Webpage since I'm not allowed to attach the photos to
the post. If anyone would like the scanned photos sent to them as an E-mail
attachment (a little more convenient than flipping back and forth between
screens), just let me know and I'll send them directly to you.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Good birding,
Dave DeReamus
Compiler of the 'Eastern PA Birdline'
Easton, PA
becard(AT)fast.net
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Which Sharp-tailed Sparrow?
From: Michel Bertrand <bertrmi(AT)COLBA.NET>
Date: 2 Jul 2002 9:34am
Dave DeReamus wrote :
> I was wondering if some of you "LBJ" experts would take
> a look at the five photos found at the following addresses
> (...) and respond with your opinions as to whether this bird
> is a Nelson's or Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow. (...)
_____________________________
I'm not claiming to be an expert on those species, but here is my first
guess. I have observed a lot of Nelson's of the subvirgatus subspecies, but
have almost no field experience with the four other taxa (the more western
subspecies of Nelson's and the two subspecies of Saltmarsh). I have been
especially interested by that split because I have been asked to correct the
French translation of the Sokes eastern guide just after the split has been
published and had to make suggestions to the publisher to correct the page
on those species. The subvirgatus subspecies was not placed in the right
species in the first English edition (I hope it has been corrected now) and
the field marks were needing more precision. I did work on those
corrections, including those needed to the maps, for the French version. So,
I have studied then all what I have been able to find about those taxa and
have continued to be interested to them since that time.
Your bird is surely not a subvirgatus. It would need to be very more blurred
and grayish, especially on its sides, to be of the Maritimes' and Northern
Maine's subspecies.
Encountering your bird in the field, I would have called it a Saltmarsh
Sharp-tailed Sparrow because :
1) the relatively dark, sharp and bold striking on the flanks,
2) the fact that the strikes are still dark, sharp and bold in the middle of
the breast as it is shown on photo 5,
3) the intense rich color of the supercilium and malar band,
4) the fact that the color on the supercilium and matar band is brighter
than the background color on the breast sides and the flanks,
5) the little streaks in the supercilium from the eye to the back end what
is especially neat on photos 2, 3 and 4 and still visible on photo 5,
6) the chin seems relatively white on photo 2 and 4 (but less on photo 5).
There would be no doubt if we do compare the photos only to the Beadle's
illustrations in Rising's Guide to the Identification and Natural History of
the Sparrows of the United States and Canada, but I have used other
references too.
It would have been interesting to know about the song, but I presume your
bird was not singing in November (or was it December, it depends upon you
used the English usual MM/DD/YY style or the DD/MM/YY style in writing
11/12/96).
There is some introgression in Maine between those two "species". So a first
generation hybrid or a bird of a following generation is always possible.
But, to be frank, I don't think I would have considered seriously an hybrid
having seen in the field what I'm at first seeing on the photos.
Be happy...
MICHEL BERTRAND
Sainte-Julie, Qc
bertrmi(AT)colba.net
N'oubliez pas d'identifier l'oiseau mystère :
Don't forget to identify the mystery bird at :
http://www.quebecoiseaux.qc.ca/HTML/Defi.html
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: New Mexico Bird Finding Guide
From: "Jerry R. Oldenettel" <Borealowl(AT)AOL.COM>
Date: 3 Jul 2002 8:03am
To update Pat's message, the 3rd edition of the New Mexico Bird Finging Guide
is now available. Additional details can be found on the NMOS web page:
http://mvar.nmsu.edu/nmos
Jerry R. Oldenettel, NMOS Treasurer
499 Farm-to-market Road
Socorro, NM 87801
borealowl(AT)aol.com
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Little-like Egret photos
From: Menotti Passarella <aster_men(AT)YAHOO.COM>
Date: 3 Jul 2002 1:19pm
Hi all from Europe.
I live in an area where Little Egret is amongst the
commonest water birds.
According to me the bird lacks any jizz of LE, and fit
well into Snowy Egret (particularly that sharp angle
to the neck showing the typical "crest" of SE).
Best wishes
Menotti Passarella
Po Delta, South of Venice, NE Italy
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/birdinggulls/
--- Angus Wilson <wilsoa02(AT)ENDEAVOR.MED.NYU.EDU>
wrote:
> I took a quick look at Judy Donaldson's photos of
> the Hornsby Bend egret:
> http://home.austin.rr.com/scottmagic/egret.html
>
> I'm pretty confident this is not a Little Egret and
> see little reason (excuse
> the pun) to invoke a hybrid. The bright yellow
> facial skin stikes me as perfect
> for Snowy Egret and rules out most populations of
> Little Egret. The bill also
> looks typical for Snowy and lacks the heavier, more
> dagger-like quality of
> Little Egrets. Sorry I can't be more encouraging!
>
> As we have heard before on ID-Frontiers, the
> presence of longer, thicker plumes
> amid the shorter, fluffier plumes is unusual, but
> not unheard of, in Snowy
> Egrets. These photos provide valuable documentation
> of this and it is great to
> see them posted.
>
> Angus Wilson
> New York City
>
> -------------------------------------------------
> This mail sent through IMP: http://horde.org/imp/
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[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Rappel / Reminder
From: Michel Bertrand <bertrmi(AT)COLBA.NET>
Date: 4 Jul 2002 7:48am
------------
Je vous rappelle que le 5 juillet est la date limite pour répondre au Défi
23 de QuébecOiseaux, si vous ne l'avez pas encore fait. L'adresse du site
fait partie de ma signature.
------------
Just a reminder that QuébecOiseaux quiz 23 will end on July 5th. So it is
time to send me your answer if you have not already sent it. The website's
address is in my signature. See the message I sent on June 11th for the
details in English (you only have to send me the identification of the
mystery bird).
Bonne chance... / Good luck...
MICHEL BERTRAND
Sainte-Julie, Qc
bertrmi(AT)colba.net
N'oubliez pas d'identifier l'oiseau mystère :
Don't forget to identify the mystery bird at :
http://www.quebecoiseaux.qc.ca/HTML/Defi.html
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